' s first major engagements of the war were against italian forces in the mediterranean and north africa . during 1940 the light cruiser hm ##as sydney and five elderly destroyers ( dubbed the " scrap iron flotilla " by nazi propaganda minister joseph go ##eb ##bel ##s — a title proudly accepted by the ships ) took part in a series of operations as part of the british mediterranean fleet , and sank several italian warships . the army first saw action in january 1941 , when the 6th division formed part of the commonwealth forces during operation compass . the division assaulted and captured bard ##ia on 5 january and to ##br ##uk on 22 january , with tens of thousands of italian troops surrender ##ing
' s first major engagements of the war were against italian forces in the mediterranean and north africa. during 1940 the light cruiser hmas sydney and five elderly destroyers ( dubbed the " scrap iron flotilla " by nazi propaganda minister joseph goebbels — a title proudly accepted by the ships ) took part in a series of operations as part of the british mediterranean fleet, and sank several italian warships. the army first saw action in january 1941, when the 6th division formed part of the commonwealth forces during operation compass. the division assaulted and captured bardia on 5 january and tobruk on 22 january, with tens of thousands of italian troops surrendering